Chapter 11. Swim
THE following week, Rachel stayed at the condo. Sage became busy with something. Hindi niya matanong dahil laging natutulog na siya sa t'wing dumarating ito, at tulog pa sa tuwing aalis naman. Ang huling pag-uusap pa nila ay nang makauwi sila galing sa steakhouse noong nakaraang linggo.
Mabuti na lamang ay maraming pwedeng gawin sa condo, at marami ring mapaglilibangan sa village kung nasaan ang gusali ng tinutuluyan nila kaya hindi siya gaanong nainip. Gaya na lamang ng pool, sa tuwing magga-gabi na ay nagsu-swimming siya. Kapag umaga naman ay nagja-jogging siya at dumidiretso sa gym ng village. She had met some residents, some guys were even asking her out, but she's politely declining all.
It was already Friday when the housekeeper came. She would just excuse herself and probably chill at the nearby café.
Hindi naman kasi niya makukwentuhan ang matandang babae dahil hirap itong magsalita ng wikang Ingles. At 'pag tutulong naman siya ay pinipigilan siya nito. Kaya umaalis na lang siya kapag naglilinis ito.
"Misa-san," tawag niya sa ginang. The suffix -san is a sign of respect in Japanese. If you call someone who are older than you, you can add it to their names. "I'll just go to the café." Binagalan niya ang pagsasalita.
"Oh, coffee!" Nakuha nito ang ibig niyang sabihin dahil na rin sa pagbanggit niya ng café.
She spent the afternoon roaming around the village, then, she went to the gym.
She was on the treadmill when someone stood beside her. Ang akala niya ay magte-treadmill ito pero nanatiling nakatayo lang malapit sa kanya. She slowed down and glanced at the person. When she was sure that he's staring at her, she turned off the treadmill and walked away.
Pero sinundan siya ng lalaki.
"Konnichiwa," panimula nito. She was just greeting her in Japanese.
"English, please."
"You're not Japanese." It was more of a statement than a question.
Hindi na siya sumagot.
"I thought you are and you live here. I just moved in three days ago and I always see you here."
In fairness, magaling mag-English.
"I'm Maximo. What's your name?"
Out of curiosity, lumingon siya rito. She noticed he wasn't Japanese because of his strong Spanish or Mexican features. He's a real definition of a man, muscular but not buffed. The funny thing was he's definitely not her type.
O baka lang kasi may natitipuhan ka ng iba? Tudyo ng kanyang isipan.
"Miss?"
"Ah, yes. I'm Rachel."
The latter smirked. He also noticed his beard made him more manly.
"I'll go now. I'm hungry," palusot niya.
"Wait! Can I get your number?"
"Sorry." At nagmadali siyang umalis.
It was obvious that Maximo liked her but she didn't want to entertain him regardless of how good-looking he was.
Pinanindigan na rin niyang nagugutom siya kaya pagkauwi ay kumain agad. Pakiramdam tuloy niya ay balewala ang pagdyi-gym na ginawa niya.
After almost an hour, at seven-thirty, she decided to go swimming at the clubhouse' pool. Nagpalit siya ng one-piece suit at pinatungan na lang ng maiksing shorts at sinuot ang puting roba.
Kaunti lamang ang tao sa pool kapag ganoon oras, hindi katulad sa tuwing hapon na may mga batang nagsu-swimming.
She went to the café first and ordered a watermelon drink. She sat on one of the sun lounger. It took her fifteen minutes to take a shower and dipped into the pool.
Ah, the water was cold yet refreshing. Nag-floating siya at nang maramdamang baka mauntog siya sa tiled wall at agad siyang sumisid. Pagkaahon niya ay nanuot ang ginaw sa kanyang balat kaya ibinabad niya ang katawan hanggang leeg. Just a few seconds, she saw someone swimming towards her and she wasn't wrong because it was the same man that afternoon, Maximo.
"Hi, Rachel!"
"Hello."
"So, you're also swimming at night, huh?"
Wala sa sariling tumango siya.
"Have you eaten already?"
"Yes, an hour ago."
He pouted, thinking of something.
"I'll go back to the unit," paalam niya. Hindi niya alam pero naiilang siya sa presensya ng lalaking ito.
"Can you stay a little longer? I just want to be friends with you."
Natigilan siya sa pag-amin nito. Hindi kaya masyado na siyang nagiging masungit? She was friendly towards the other residents so maybe, Maximo was just one of those who wanted to be in good terms with her.
"Or not?" Naguguluhang tanong nito. "Alright, you can go."
"No, I'll stay. I still want to swim anyway." Umupo siya sa tiled staircase ng pool.
His mood lightened up or maybe it was just because of the dim light. Medyo nailawan kasi ito at hindi maipagkakailang gwapo nga.
"So, what do you do?"
"Business. I'm managing an enterprise."
"Really? Well, my family owns one." She knew what that was. Any business can operate as an enterprise, depending on the structure and communication involved in company activities. "Enterprise" essentially means that the company has multiple levels, locations, divisions or departments that all collaborate to achieve big-picture business objectives.
"Nice. Is it here in Osaka?"
"We have a branch here, but our main is in the Philippines, that's where I'm from."
"You're a Filipina." Hindi niya alam kung guni-guni lang ba o parang nakita niyang dinilaan nito ang ibabang labi at pinasadahan ng tingin ang katawan niya.
Tumango siya.
"Are all Filipinas petite like you? Don't get me wrong. I'm just curious."
Nagkibit-balikat siya.
Lumapit ito sa kanya at parang nakulong siya nang ipatong nito magkabilang kamay sa kanyang gilid.
Kinabahan siya nang husto. What was he going to do?
"Do you want to have sex?" bulalas nito na nagpasinghap sa kanya.
"Max!"
"I was just kidding." Lumangoy ito papalayo. She took that chance to get up. Babalik na siya sa unit. Pero dahil sa sobrang kaba na parang nahihintakutan siya ay nadulas siya at tumama ang kanang binti sa tiles. Sa sobrang lakas ng impact at gawa na rin nang kumiskis ang binti niya pagkatama ang tiles ay nagkasugat siya.
"Rachel!" Maximo yelled.
Agad siya nitong dinaluhan at binuhat. She didn't get to wear her robe and slippers. Sa sobrang gulat ay hindi na siya nakahuma nang dadalhin siya ni Maximo sa unit nito. Sa tapat lang nag clubhouse ang gusali at sa fourth floor niyon.
"Uh, I'm fine. I'll just go to my unit."
"We're already here." They stopped in front of the unit and he opened the door using a passcode. Hindi tulad ng kay Sage ay normal na studio-type condo unit ang tinitirhan ni Maximo.
"Max, you can put me down."
"On the sofa. And I like you calling my nickname."
Huh?
"Just stay there."
"But I'm wetting your sofa."
"It's fine. You look stunning when you're wet."
Naningkit ang mga mata niya pero bago makasagot ay tumalikod na ito. Napailing agad siya. Maybe she was just imagining things.